NBC Has Best Fall Season Start in 10 Years [release]

Published: October 31, 2012

It looks like the tide is turning for NBC’s ratings after falling behind for years. The network is touting their ratings for the first three weeks of the 2012-13 season — particularly focusing on the numbers for Go On, Grimm, Revolution, Sunday Night Football, and The Voice.

NBC Has Best Fall Season Start in 10 Years

Peacock Network Wins First 3 Weeks of Season in Adults 18-49

NEW YORK — October 16, 2012 — NBC has opened the 2012-13 broadcast season with three consecutive weekly victories in adults 18-49, the network’s strongest start since the fall of 2002, according to ratings data from Nielsen Media Research. Three weeks in, NBC ranks first in the key sales demo, averaging a 3.0 rating. NBC is the only major broadcast network to show growth compared to last year:

Network *Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Average Change vs. last season

NBC 3.5 2.8 2.9 3.0 +15%

CBS 3.1 2.4 2.1 2.6 -24%

Fox 3.2 2.1 2.1 2.5 -19%

ABC 2.9 2.0 2.0 2.3 -12

*Week 1 ratings are based on “live plus seven day” data, which is issued by Nielsen Media Research two weeks after the completion of each week. Weeks 2 and 3 are based on “live plus same day” data. Season-to-date figures are averages of “live plus seven day” for premiere week and “live plus same day” for the two most recent weeks.

For the first time in nine years, NBC led three nights in a row during the regular season with regular scheduled programming, winning last Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday (first time since November 12-14, 2003).

According to NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt: “We’re rebuilding NBC brick by brick, so it’s going to take time. That said, we are very pleased about what we’ve seen so far this season, especially from some of our new series.”

NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke added: “It’s good to see NBC off to such a strong start this season. We are carrying the momentum of the London Olympics right into a strong fall launch.”